Loving Husband by Day, Nazi Killer by Night: Execution of Hansen

Video Description

Narrator: Marchand Steenkamp. About the story: Ib Birkedal Hansen was one of the most feared collaborators in Nazi-occupied Denmark and a central figure in the German campaign against the Danish resistance during World War II. Following the German invasion of Denmark in April 1940, the occupation initially relied on cooperation with local authorities. As resistance activity increased, however, the Gestapo turned to Danish collaborators to hunt down, interrogate, and destroy underground networks. Born in Aarhus in 1909, Hansen drifted through a series of failed business ventures before the war. His life changed dramatically after he made contact with the Gestapo and offered his services to the German secret police. By 1943, as Denmark entered a period of martial law, Hansen became an interpreter and senior collaborator for the Gestapo in Copenhagen. He soon rose to power as the head of an informant and enforcement network later known as the Birkedal Group. Under Hansen’s command, the group became responsible for a large share of arrests of Danish resistance fighters. Hansen personally oversaw interrogations and became notorious for his brutality. Prisoners were beaten for hours with truncheons, wires, and whips, often suffering permanent injuries or death. His methods were crude but effective, earning him both fear and favor within the Gestapo hierarchy. The Birkedal Group relied on informers, paid collaborators, and female agents who lured resistance members into traps. Their actions led to countless arrests, torture sessions, executions, and deportations. Despite his role in repression, Hansen maintained the appearance of a devoted family man at home, living a double life until the collapse of Nazi Germany. After Denmark’s liberation in May 1945, Hansen fled but was captured in 1947. He was tried for murder, torture, and aggravated assault, convicted of dozens of killings, and sentenced to death. On 20 July 1950, Ib Birkedal Hansen was executed by firing squad—becoming the last person executed in Denmark for wartime crimes. This documentary examines collaboration, betrayal, and the moral collapse that allowed terror to flourish in occupied Denmark. Join World History channel and get access to benefits: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKKy_pNKZBX4KcCct8505HA/join Disclaimer: All opinions and comments below are from members of the public and do not reflect the views of World History channel. We do not accept promoting violence or hatred against individuals or groups based on attributes such as: race, nationality, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation. World History has right to review the comments and delete them if they are deemed inappropriate. ► CLICK the SUBSCRIBE button for more interesting clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKKy_pNKZBX4KcCct8505HA/?sub_confirmation=1 #IbBirkedalHansen #WWII #ww2 #nazi #history #holocaust #documentary #europe #denmark #adolfhitler #warcriminals #warcrime #collaborators #worldhistory #worldwar2videos #traitor #danish #warstories #war Ib Birkedal Hansen biography, Holocaust in Denmark, Nazi occupation of Denmark, Nazi SS, Nazi war crimes, WW2 war crimes, War trials, Nazi criminals, War criminals, War criminals WW2, German war crimes, Occupation of Denmark, German Invasion of Denmark, Denmark WW2, German Occupation of Denmark, Germany invades Denmark, When did Germany invade Denmark, Denmark resistance WW2, Nazi collaborator, Danish resistance, Nazi traitor, Nazi Gestapo, Danish resistance movement, Danish underground WW2, Danish resistance in WW2, Nazis in Denmark, What was the Gestapo, German Gestapo, Gestapo Police, Gestapo agent, Getapo meaning, Gestapo WW2, German secret police,